Sometimes in the crazy world of MMA, a friend might end up across from you inside the cage. This is wat Roy Nelson and Bigfoot Silva are facing Saturday when the heavyweights collide at Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasília, Brazil.
"Actually, this one kind of sucks.” Nelson admits. "Of all the heavyweights, Bigfoot is the one I like. We are friends, but I have a job to do, and he has a job to do."
The friendship was born when Bigfoot helped Nelson in preparation for his fight against Alistair Overeem, in March 2015. The Brazilian says they spent 15 days in camp, and also spent a lot of time together when filming for the new "Kickboxer" series.
The friendship between the two is also apparent throughout social media. Nelson is always making jokes about his pal, and even published a photo of the opponent to wish him a happy birthday last week.
"When the clock hit midnight, the first text I got was from my wife. The second was his," reveals Bigfoot, who turned 37 on Sept 14.
"Unfortunately we are employees and don't choose our opponents. I have a great affection for Roy, but we are professional. If possible, I'll take him out sightseeing in Brasília after the fight. I'll show him the city, where I lived, a little bit of the local food," the Brasília-born fighter said.
Jessica Portasio is a digital journalist and presenter for UFC Brazil. You can follow her on Twitter @Jeportasio
